The Caine Mutiny

 (1954)

The Caine Mutiny Blu-ray delivers great video and solid audio in this excellent Blu-ray release
A captain of a US Navy destroyer during World War II begins to crack under pressure, expressing odd behavior and is forcibly relieved by his second in command, but then a trial ensues to uncover who was in the right.

For more about The Caine Mutiny and the The Caine Mutiny Blu-ray release, see The Caine Mutiny Blu-ray Review published by Martin Liebman on October 9, 2011 where this Blu-ray release scored 4.0 out of 5.

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, José Ferrer, Van Johnson, Fred MacMurray, Robert Francis, May Wynn
Director: Edward Dmytryk

» See full cast & crew

The Caine Mutiny Blu-ray Review

A classic picture arrives on Blu-ray at an attractive price.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman, October 9, 2011

There has never been a mutiny in a ship of the United States Navy. The truths of this film lie not in its incidents but in the way a few men meet the crisis of their lives.

It's not often that a film made of such a simple story -- "disorganized Navy crew is forced to shape up for a new Captain who may be stern but who also may not be completely in charge of all his faculties" -- proves to be this good on so many levels. The Caine Mutiny is made of nothing short of superb filmmaking, a picture that's perhaps the very embodiment of the value of a sound plot and fantastic acting, both working in seamless harmony and elevating the movie to heights rarely achieved by mere visual or audio excess or a ridiculously fast pace. It's the sort of movie that exudes such a strong magnetism that one can't help but to be swept up in it, working the deck of the Caine, huddled around the officer's mess, standing firm on the bridge in the face of an almost unthinkable and unprecedented nautical change-of-power, and breathlessly awaiting each syllable of testimony in the subsequent trial. The Caine Mutiny represents the peak of cinematic Drama. There's no shortage of emotional energy and structural chaos that develops as the plot plays out. The action emanates from deep within the viewer; the film engages the nerves and creates an uneasiness as the story reaches its climax, and while the end result isn't exactly a surprise -- the title of the film telegraphs what's to come -- The Caine Mutiny nevertheless piles on the thrills even as it marches so smartly, effortlessly, and memorably towards the inevitable.

Queeg assumes command.

Brand-new Naval Ensign Willie Keith (Robert Francis) has been assigned to the U.S.S. Caine, a minesweeping ship that's barely seaworthy -- it's described as a "beaten up tub" -- and that has seen more action than it has mine detection duty. Keith's surprised at the lax discipline aboard the Caine; it's hardly a vessel worthy of a man with his background, but even when he's offered a cushy desk job for a high-profile Admiral, he chooses to remain aboard and carry out his assignment. It's not long, however, before the ship's easygoing captain, DeVriess (Tom Tully), is replaced by a longtime Navy man, the experienced and no-nonsense Lieutenant Commander Philip Francis Queeg (Humphrey Bogart). The upstart Keith is assigned to serve as ship's "morale officer," code for "discipline enforcer." Discipline improves, but to the chagrin of the crew and the growing frustration of the officers. As Queeg's understandable demand for heightened discipline at a time of war and out of respect for the rules of the book and the chain of command slowly morphs into unacceptable behavior, coverups, and questionable command decisions, the officers aboard the Caine begin to contemplate the unthinkable: mutiny, but mutiny as prescribed by Naval code. Can the officers come to an agreement about Queeg's suitability as ship's captain, and should they choose to remove him from command, will their decision hold up in a Naval court?

When a movie is this good, there are any number of contributing factors working in its favor. To elevate one over another would be a disservice to the seamlessness with which the movie works and the greatness it exudes, so suffice it to say that all of the praises hereafter discussed may be seen as equals and critical factors all to the film's ultimate success. One of The Caine Mutiny's strengths lies in its ability to immediately make the viewer feel as part of the ship's crew and both an integral player and observer in the situations that unfold. The audience will feel most closely related to newly-minted Naval Ensign Willie Keith. His experiences on the ship with both of his commanding officers -- the looser but nevertheless accountable and, to a degree, demanding Captain DeVriess and, of course, the film's most critical character, Captain Queeg -- carry the audience through the film. He's certainly not naive or unfamiliar with the goings-on aboard the Caine, but the audience experiences everything for the first time along with him, both the lax discipline under DeVriess and the staunch by-the-book and, ultimately, undue demands of Queeg. Keith's initial boarding of the Caine brings with it a great sense of awe -- even if the ship is a rusting mess and certainly not one of the more prominent, larger flagship-like vessels -- which ultimately yields a chilling air of uncertainty and uneasy nervousness not necessarily over a new captain who's a bit more formal and demanding, but instead detached from reality, easily distracted, slow to decide, and fast to blame, all aboard a ship that can't afford any command mistakes. Keith's eyes and ears serve as something of a channel of information and perspective to the audience that's not easily accomplished, particularly in lesser movies that are more content to simply show its audience what's happening rather than make them feel as if a part of the story.

Another plus that elevates The Caine Mutiny to "classic" levels is its absolute reliance on story over raw action and kinetic activity. The picture plays with a understated façade and a pace that's "slower" than even that employed by more modern films with a similar premise, for instance the excellent Crimson Tide, a picture that does rely more on story and acting but that has a more polished and refined presence and a slicker veneer than The Caine Mutiny. However, even those added "qualities" don't necessarily make it the superior of the two (though there's no doubt Crimson Tide is an absolutely fantastic picture). Then again, there's no need for flash in The Caine Mutiny; the story and the acting both are top-notch and at a level of such refined excellence that audience members will find themselves too engrossed in the plot and the characters to realize that the movie lacks that visceral pizzaz so often employed to distract from, rather than add to, a plot. The story's primary dynamics deal more in mental and emotional exercises, anyway; this is the story of people who must face a drastic change in routine in a time already defined by great stress, and have those pressures exponentially increased when it becomes apparent that the man under whose command they fall may not himself be up to performing his duties with the capability and capacity the situation demands. The story looks at the role of discipline and its place in an organized militaristic structure, but in this case "discipline" means not only tucking in shirts and abstaining from thieving a few strawberries. In The Caine Mutiny, it means taking command of a situation and upsetting the norm when it becomes clear that there's more than pride on the line; suddenly, it's the very lives of a crew come into undo jeopardy that's at stake, not simply their fall into a malaise that's a result of bad attitudes and a permitted absence of discipline all around.

And then there's the acting. There are plenty of movies out there that can boast wonderful casts and legendary performances. The Caine Mutiny doesn't have the finest assembled name cast and there are certainly some movies with -- subjectively speaking, of course -- "better" performances, but this movie comes in near the top of both categories. The iconic Humphrey Bogart turns in a performance that's a case study in complete acting. His character, Queeg, is so complex that he's defined not by his broad strokes -- disciplinarian, egoist, mentally unsteady -- but by the less obvious but ultimately far more crucial subtleties that make him a man who's hard to read, difficult to either outright like or dislike, and not readily revealing of what makes him tick and what will ultimately bring about the mutinous actions of the crew. Bogart's uncanny ability to become a character of such great complexity is practically unmatched -- Billy Bob Thornton in Sling Blade is a more modern example -- and even as an actor of such stature and who is instantly recognizable to most anyone who watches film, he simply melts into the character makes audiences forget the man behind the make-believe façade. The film's other stellar performance comes from Robert Francis as Ensign Keith. As alluded to earlier, it's his ability to play the eyes and ears of the audience while also defining his own character that's one of the areas in which The Caine Mutiny readily separates itself from the pack. Francis offers a steady effort that sees him smartly, but never absurdly, maneuver through the various difficulties facing his tour of duty aboard the Caine, both before and after Queeg's arrival. Needless to say, the remainder of the cast is superb, the performances highlighted by the notable interplay between José Ferrer and Fred MacMurray near film's end.

The Caine Mutiny Blu-ray, Video Quality

 

The Caine Mutiny's 1080p, 1.85:1-framed transfer delivers what are oftentimes striking results. Needless to say, the movie has never looked better for mass media home consumption. Sony's transfer appears faithful to the source, resulting in a handsome film-like image that's not always even and balanced, but representative of its natural state and intended appearance. Fine detailing is a strength. The image is often crisp and sharp, yielding remarkably intricate textures on welded and painted bulkheads, rusty surfaces, and other various areas around the ship. Facial detailing occasionally yields a somewhat flat and pasty appearance and the frame sometimes softens up, but neither hinder the overall appearance or one's ability to enjoy the movie. Colors waver slightly at times but are generally steady and pleasant. Brighter hues aren't the norm -- the picture is dominated by the flat gray paint aboard the Caine and the officers' tan uniforms -- but red dresses, the bright blue waters, and any other number of brilliant shades occasionally liven up the screen and demonstrate the palette's overall steadiness. The transfer is home to a few pops and scratches, but nothing that could be deemed deal breakers; they're minor inconveniences at worst. Strong blacks, solid flesh tones, and an absence of intrusive digital tinkering make this another handsome catalogue release in the ever-growing number of classic films earning high quality Blu-ray releases.

The Caine Mutiny Blu-ray, Audio Quality

 

Sony's DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack of The Caine Mutiny isn't going to rock the listening area or push the limits of even modest home theater systems, but the presentation is fair and satisfying. Music might not enjoy the pitch-perfect lifelike realism of today's finest mixes, but there's no denying that the opening title theme is gloriously revealing, yielding rich clarity and wonderful spacing across the front. The track is rather limited in range and clarity outside of music, however; the surrounds don't exactly submerse the listener into the film or capture the everyday little nuanced details that might make up life aboard the Caine, but general effects are satisfactory in delivery, if not a bit on the crunchy and muffled side. The track picks up a bit of power during the heavy storm that appears in chapter eleven; solid bass, good use of the surround channels, and the wide front soundstage collectively do a fine job of recreating the chaos of a potent storm at sea. Dialogue is usually sharp and clear, but it can play with a slightly muffled texture on a few occasions. All in all, this is a quality presentation of a soundtrack that's well over fifty years of age.

The Caine Mutiny Blu-ray, Special Features and Extras

 

The Caine Mutiny makes up for its relatively short collection of extras with a strong commentary and a must-watch Documentary.

• Audio Commentary: Program Director of the Society of Lincoln Center Richard Peña and Filmmaker Ken Bowser share a well-rounded collection of thoughts and insights into the history of The Caine Mutiny. Discussions include casting, the Navy's cooperation, the picture's awards and nominations, differences between book and film, various liberties taken throughout the film, shooting locales, and plenty more.
• Behind The Caine Mutiny (480p, 35:13): This two-part Documentary from 2006 covers numerous aspects of the production, including its place in cinema and world history, the work of Producer Stanley Kramer, adapting the book to the screen and the need to cut it down to size, the legendary ensemble cast, the work of Edward Dmytryk and his transition from Noir pictures, the film's authenticity to Naval regulation and procedure, the inter-character dynamics, the plot's themes and character development, and more. This is a wonderfully all-inclusive, fast-paced, and engaging feature. It's a must-watch for all who enjoy this film and film history.
• The Caine Mutiny Teaser Trailer #1 (1080p, 0:55).
• The Caine Mutiny Teaser Trailer #2 (1080p, 0:51).
• Previews: Additional Sony titles.
• BD-Live.

The Caine Mutiny Blu-ray, Overall Score and Recommendation

 

The Caine Mutiny is a remarkably strong film that's not lacking in any single area. Tremendous acting, a gripping story, and steady direction that accentuates the former two elements make the movie a wartime classic and one of the finest pictures to ever explore the dynamics of human interaction and the effects of pressure and uncertainty through the chain of command and, indeed, within any sort of multi-participant structure. It's one of the must-see films of the 1950s -- or any era for that matter -- and hasn't lost a beat even in today's more chaotic, faster-paced world of cinema. Sony's Blu-ray release of The Cain Mutiny deserves a more thorough supplemental section (though what's included is of the highest quality). Still, the technical specs are up to par and the price is right. Highly recommended.